Verona is uniquely located in the western area of the province of Veneto. Because of the great road & train system connecting the city, this allows for a ton of variety to explore – without a ton of time spent commuting! You’re close to 3 other regions – Trentino Alto – Adige, Lombardy, and Emilia – Romagna. This means you’ll get distinct regional food, cheese, wine, dessert, and art, blended together because of how close the regional boundaries are. Here’s 10 short trips from Verona that we’ve visited to check out when you’re staying in Verona and want to get a change of scenery. Don’t see a place on our list? Submit a suggestion on our Contact Us page!

1. Padua

Train: 44 minutes
Drive: 57 minutes 

I always think of time when I think of Padua (Padova in Italian). This is because (in my humble opinion) it has one of the most beautiful clocks in the world – the Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) in the Piazza dei Signori. Its intricate design not only includes time, but the phases of the moon, the day and month of the year, and zodiac signs; all beautifully architected. It’s reason enough to make the trip! If you’re around during the holiday season, their many town piazze are beautifully adorned with lights, bringing a wonderful day and night contrast. 

For food and drink – did you know that Aperol was invented in Padua? So when you’re here, definitely get a drink with Aperol! We also like Tramezzino, a type of sandwich, which can be found throughout the city. Padua is also the closest of the short trips from Verona by train – so if you’re looking for the quickest trip, this is it!

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2. Mantua

Train: 46 minutes
Drive: 31 minutes 

We learned about Mantua (Mantova in Italian) while dining out in Verona. When ordering dessert at Antica Bottega del Vino and Trattoria I Masenini, we opted for torta sbrisolona (a crumbly cake made from almonds that often resembles a cookie when broken up into smaller pieces!). We had to know what it was and where it was from. Luckily for us, we found out that it was from Mantua (Montova), which turned out to be a very short train ride away! We decided to go the very next day (why not for a €5 train ride!). If you happen to have a car, it’s the closest of the short trips from Verona!

When there, you can buy Torta Sbrisolona in the piazze, sold by the town folk that bake it that day. While in Mantua, we have two recommendations:

1. Go eat at Sucar Brusc Ristorante Mantova. Although Mantua is in the Lombardy region, being very close to Emilia-Romagna means you get a variety of choices. We still dream of the Tortelli served multiple ways! And, of course, get Torta Sbrisolona for dessert!
2. Go to the Palazzo Te. This is a hidden gem, and we can’t believe more people don’t know/don’t talk about how beautiful the artwork is in this Palazzo. The entry fee is very reasonable, it is sparsely visited by tourists, and will blow you away room after room of beautiful Renaissance art. Even more fun – it’s the setting of the show The Trial on Netflix – a who done it murder mystery that has the Palazzo as the murder scene! 

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3. Bologna

Train: 52 minutes
Drive: 1 hour, 26 minutes

Bologna deserves its own trip, but hey, sometimes that’s not possible. Maybe you only have a free day or two to fill, or maybe you want a specific meal (ours would be All’Osteria Bottega or Antica Osteria Le Mura – both are absolutely devine). Bologna also just happens to be on the way to a few other cities listed in our short trips from Verona, and could be combined into a multiple stop excursion. Whether it’s aperitivo in the University District, wandering the Quadrilatero (we recommend this with a panino from Salumeria Simoni), or just walking the never ending portici, this is one of our favorite places in Italy. Read our full Bologna City Guide for more!

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4. Sirmione

Bus: 1 hour, 8 minutes (no train options, sorry!)
Drive: 31 minutes 

When in Italy, we prefer train travel, when available. We also know that renting a car makes sense sometimes too, depending on where you want to go since trains don’t go everywhere. Sirmione is very close by car; it ties Mantua as closest by car for short trips from Verona. Buses are also a great alternative, and usually very inexpensive. In the case of Verona to Sirmione, we were able to hop on a bus that would take us directly there. Located on Lake Garda, Sirmione gives stunning views because it’s on a small sliver of a peninsula that juts out into the enormous lake. But be warned, Sirmione is well-known and well-traveled, making it quite crowded and touristy. But sometimes the trade-off to be on the lake is worth the sacrifice.

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5. Venice

Train:  1 hour, 12 minutes
Drive:  1 hour, 14 minutes 

At barely over an hour commute, Venice is one of the easiest short trips from Verona to make and still leaves plenty of time for exploring. For us, Venice is most stunning at dawn or dusk. Too many folks come just for a few hours during the day to “check the box”, get in a few photos, and then move on. While we agree that any time visited in Venice is better than no time, we beg you to take time to savor if you can! The view inside Piazza San Marco at sunset, the gondola boats lined with Basilica Santa Maria della Salute in the background, or strolling over the sparsely populated Ponte di Rialto – all these are magical ways to spend time without the normal hustle and bustle. For more about Venice, check out our Venice City Guide!

Recommended accommodations: Hotel Ai Cavalieri

6. Ferrara

Train: 1 hour, 40 minutes (via Bologna)
Drive: 1 hour, 18 minutes 

Long before we had fallen in love with Italy, we were in our hometown of Austin, Texas, and wanted to try a new food truck for dinner. As we were finishing our new meal, we looked across the parking lot and noticed a food truck that sold authentic gelato and other Italian desserts. We strolled over to see what we wanted to order, and struck up a conversation with the owner of the food truck. She was super friendly and one of the nicest people you’ve ever met (and we became friends!).

Why do we tell you all of this? It turns out that she is from Ferrara and her family still lives there. We just happened to cross paths in Italy at the same time that she was there visiting. We were staying in Verona so it made sense to go see her and her husband! When you’re in Ferrara, the town center piece is Castello Estense – one of the few remaining castles completely surrounded by a moat (and where our friends got married!). We also recommend eating at the traditional Ristorante Hostaria Savonarola. We are forever indebted to our friend’s dad, who called up and put our lunch on his tab before we even arrived – had no clue until we tried to pay! Thank you Francesca and Dante!

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7. Modena

Train: 1 hours, 45 minutes (via Bologna)
Drive: 1 hour, 6 minutes

There are so many wonderful things about Modena that are worth going to experience. If you’re a car enthusiast, you already know that the Ferrari museum is here. It’s a common occurrence for sports cars to be exhibited throughout the town, with everyone from McLaren to Bugatti shown off. The Modena Cathedral is a site to behold in the center of town. And, last but not least, the Emilia-Romagna food and drink takes center stage.  Some of the most iconic and world-renowned foods are from here – from Traditional Balsamic Vinegar (that we urge you to go sample and to buy to take home!) to Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Modena that melts in your mouth. For a list of restaurants to try and much more, check out our Modena City Guide!

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8. Parma

Train: 2 hours, 17 minutes (via Bologna)
Drive: 1 hour, 34 minutes 

Parma, which you know from its namesake being part of Parmigiano Reggiano, is a must for any traveler who wants to explore the origins of food and cheese. Also known for Prosciutto di Parma, it’s a wonderful experience to compare the subtle differences in how the meats and cheeses are made in the different comunes in Emilia-Romagna. The town itself has numerous incredibly architected buildings to see, with one of our favorites being the Baptistery of Parma. For more, visit our Parma City Guide.

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9. Bolzano

Train: 2 hours, 21 minutes
Drive: 1 hour, 25 minutes 

Although not far from Verona, when you arrive in Bolanzo, you’ll feel you’ve been transported thousands of miles away. Located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, you’ll experience a mash-up of Italian and Austrian cultures due to the numerous border changes throughout the centuries. The region today still celebrates its differences from the rest of Italy. For instance, you’ll see the city frequently referred to as Bozen, its German version. While in Bolzano, we recommend getting some Tyrolean dumplings – these are incredible and you won’t believe you’re still in Italy when eating these. A few other reasons to visit Bolzano: they have one of the largest Christmas markets in all of Italy and you can see Ötzi – the world’s oldest natural mummy that lived over 5,000 years ago.

Recommended accommodations: Hotel Grief

10. Ravenna

Train: 3 hours, 7 minutes (via Bologna)
Drive: 2 hours, 34 minutes 

Ravenna might be a little bit far to be considered in the ‘short trips from Verona’, but indulge us as another option to consider “close by” to Verona! Ravenna is famous for its mosaics; with its most well-known examples being La Basilica di San Vitale and La Basilica Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. La Basilica di San Vitale is laid out in an octagonal format, making it unique compared to most of Italy’s churches – and the mosaics inside are stunning! The tradition of mosaic art continues today in Ravenna; the local artisans are commissioned worldwide for customers that want new mosaic art created today. Ravenna is a great place to try a piadina – a flat bread sandwich with a variety of options to choose from (both meats and veggies). Explore our Ravenna City Guide for more. 

Recommended accommodations: Casa Gugù

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